RU-3973759 Saint Petersburg, second largest city in Russia

Saint Petersburg (Санкт-Петербу́рг) is the second largest city in Russia, politically incorporated as a federal subject (a federal city). It is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In 1914 the name of the city was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad and in 1991, back to Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703. Between 1713–1728 and 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the imperial capital of Russia. In 1918, the central government bodies moved from Saint Petersburg (then named Petrograd) to Moscow. Saint Petersburg has 5 million inhabitants (2012) and it is a major European cultural centre.

This postcard shows the view of Vasilyevsky Island and the Admiralty Embankment.  The postcard came from Daria (Postcrossing).